Induction dosing involves giving high doses of interferon once a day. In this trial, all patients with a sustained virologic response had an initial decline in HCV RNA levels of more than 3 logs within the first 4 weeks of treatment (Medscape Gastroenterology, 3[3] 2001).
At the AASLD Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas, in October 2000, it was shown that a high daily dose of IFN alpha has no significant effect on the long-term results if the treatment schedule is changed to a 3-times-weekly regimen later on during therapy.
Induction doses are now being tested with the pegylated interferons,and ribavirin.
